Combined can holder and opener



May 10, 1955 w, PETRAM 2,707,827

COMBINED CAN HOLDER AND OPENER Filed March 27, 1955 United States Patent 2,707,827 COMBINED CAN HOLDER AND OPENER Fred W. Petram, New York, N. Y. Application March 27, 1953, Serial No. 345,035 3 Claims. (Cl. 30-123) This invention relates to can openers and more particularly to a combined can opener and holder.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a device which may be efiiciently and easily used in opening and holding a can of beer or a can of juice or similar material, the construction consisting entirely of one piece.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a combined can holder and opener of the above type which is adapted to snap on to the upper lip of the can at the end of the device remote from the can opening portion, the latter being resiliently retained against the lower lip of the can with the device intermediate its ends curving outwardly to provide a grasping portion.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a combined can holder and opener bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture, is easy to use and eflicient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a combined can holder and opener embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof showing the application of the same to the opening up of a can of beer; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the device in operative use as a handle for the beer can.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, in which similar reference numerals identify corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown a combined can opener and holder, referred to collectively as 10 and made up of an elongated strip of copper or other suitable material 11, substantially as illustrated.

The strip 11 is tapered to a point as at 12, this point being upwardly bent as at 13 and 14, the strip 11 having a tongue 15 stamped upwardly along the portion 14 adapted to engage the upper lip 16 of beer can 17 to fulcrum the point 13 downwardly through the top 17, in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

The other end of strip 11 is bent into a substantially cylindrical portion 18, terminating in a flat flange 19, the longitudinal axis of cylindrical portion 18 being curved for a purpose which will hereinafter become clear.

The strip 11 intermediate the cylindrical portion 18 and tongue 15 is arcuately bent, substantially as illustrated.

After the cover 17 has been opened, as shown in Fig. 3, the point 12 is removed and the device 10 inverted, bringing the cylindrical portion 18 adjacent the upper lip 16, whereupon it is snapped downwardly onto the latter, as shown in Fig. 3. Due to the curvature of the longitudinal axis of portion 18, it snaps readily and tightly into place on the curved lip 16. It will be noted that in this snapped position the flange 19 is flush with the cover 17 of can 17, while the strip 11 extends outwardly from the sides of the can in a manner adapted to be gripped easily and readily above the tongue 15, as shown in Fig. 3.

To steady the handle thus provided, the point 13 is resiliently engaged by the lower lip 20 of can 17.

After the beer 21 has been consumed, the point 13 is disengaged from the lower lip 20, permitting the snap- 2,707,827 Patented May 10, 1955 ping upwardly of portion 18 from lip 16 and removal of the device for future use, the empty can then being discarded.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a device which will efliciently and easily be used in opening and holding a can of beer or the like, the device being constructed entirely of a unitary piece of metal.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of my invention, what is claimed is:

l. A combined can opener and bolder comprising an elongated strip of metal, said strip at one end being adapted to be fulcrumed against the upper lip of the can and to pry open the cover thereof with a puncture, the other end of said strip being bent into a transverse, substantially cylindrical portion adapted to be snapped onto the lip of the can, said cylindrical portion continuing in a flat flange adapted to lie flush with the cover of the can, said strip intermediate the ends thereof being curved whereby to provide a handle when said cylindrical portion is snapped on to the upper rim of the can after opening, and said strip having a portion which is intermediate said cylindrical portion and said handle, said intermediate portion engaging the side of the can when said cylindrical portion is snapped onto the upper rim of the can, whereby said flange and said intermediate portion brace the handle with respect to the can.

2. A combined can opener and handle comprising an elongated strip of metal having a pointed end portion adapted to pierce the top of a can and a fulcrum tongue projecting therefrom to engage under the upper rim of the can, the other end of said strip having a resilient portion adapted to snap engage said upper rim, and said strip having a portion intermediate said other portions thereof which constitutes a handle when said resilient portion is engaged on said upper rim, said pointed end portion and said resilient portion extending laterally of said intermediate portion, and said pointed end terminating in substantially the same plane longitudinally of said strip in which said resilient portion is disposed for engagement with the upper edge of the lower rim of the can when said resilient portion is engaged on the upper rim thereof.

3. A combined can opener and handle comprising an elongated strip of metal having a pointed end portion adapted to pierce the top of a can and a fulcrum tongue projecting therefrom to engage under the upper rim of the can, the other end of said strip having a resilient portion adapted to snap engage said upper rim and a flange which extends from said resilient portion to lie flush against the top of the can when said upper rim is engaged by said resilient portion, said strip intermediate the ends thereof having a formation which provides a handle when said resilient portion is engaged on said upper rim, and a portion intermediate said resilient portion and said handle which is substantially at right angles to said flange for engaging the side of the can when said flange engages the top thereof, whereby said flange and said intermediate portion brace the handle with respect to the can, and said pointed end terminating in substantially the plane of said intermediate portion for engagement with the upper edge of the lower rim of the can when said resilient portion is engaged on the upper rim thereof.

Wormelle, Jr. May 26, 1953 Anderson Aug. 18, 1953 

